The Honorable Governor Pat McCrory was at the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor Center to commemorate the 100th anniversary of NC State Parks. On March 3, 1915, the General Assembly passed a bill establishing Mount Mitchell as North Carolina’s first state park. In 2016 the first land purchases were made for Mount Mitchell State Park.

He signed a Proclamation that included:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAT McCRORY, Governor of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the North Carolina State Parks System, starting with the North Carolina General Assembly authorization of the first state park on March 3, 1915, the first week of March shall henceforth be known as "NORTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS WEEK," and commend its observance to all citizens, and encourage all citizens during that week to visit a state park, volunteer in a state park, learn about our state parks, and show support for our state parks system."